Winding machine



C. E. SMART WINDING MACHINE Oct. 24, 1933.

Filed March 4, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEYS- C. E. SMART WINDING MACHI1IE Oct. 24, 1933.

Filed March 4, 1932 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 'ATES 1,931,591 WINDING MACHINE filarence Earl Smart,

Amsterdam, N. Y; as-

sign-or to Mohawk Carpet Mills, Inc, Amster dam, N. $1., a corporation of New York Application March 4, .1932. Serial No. 596,727

24 Claims.

I This invention relates to the manufacture of pile fabrics, such as those of the Axminster vatrol so that successive spools wound in the apparatus contain substantially the same lengths of yarn. I v

In the preparation of spools loaded with pile for use in a pile fabric loom, the yarns are drawn from yarn packages such as bobbins and wound in a selected order upon a spool which is then placed in the tube frame of the 2e loom. This spool carries the yarns used for the pile tufts in a row across the fabric and the number of different spools required in the weaving of a fabric with a particular pattern corresponds to the number of rows of pile tufts in a repeat of the pattern. Since the patterns employed in rugs and carpets are frequently of an elaborate character and have a large number of rows of tufts in a repeat, the winding of the yarns upon the many spools preliminary to the so weaving of such a fabric involves a considerable amount of ime and labor.

The winding of the yarns upon the spools is carried on by Winding machines and, in such machines, it is highly important that the length of the yarns wound on successive spools should be substantially the same since otherwise considerable losses either of yarn or of the productivity of the loom result. It will be apparent that whenever any spool becomes exhausted dur- 4G ing the weaving operation, the weaver has to stop the loom and substitute a full spool for the empty one and if all the spools become empty simultaneously, the entire set of spools can be changed at one time. However, if some of these spools still contain substantial amounts of yarn at the time the tube frames are refilled, the lengths of yarn still remaining on the spools removed represent both a loss of material and a loss of time required for Winding that yarn on the spools. if there is a wide variation in the amount of yarn carried by the various spools in a set, these losses may be of a serious character,

but it is not practical for the weaver, to supply full spools for empty ones as the spools become individually exhausted, since that would cut down the working time of the loom and might result inimperfections in the fabric.

Aside from having means which permitac curate andautomatic control of the amount of yarn wound on successive spools, machines for this purpose should also be so constructed that removal of a loaded spool and introduction of an empty spool may be carried on easily and rapidly and with the yarn ends on a full spool separately held in place so that the ends may be easily passed through'the tubesof the frame in which the spool is to be mounted.

The present invention is directed to the provision of a winding machine for the purpose which achieves the desired objects and, in this machine, spools may be wound with accurately determined lengths of yarn, the machine stopping automatically when a" spool has received the selected quantity. In the operation of the machine, the yarn is drawn from separate supplies and the yarn ends are passed through a'reed in the selected order, then through measuring means, and through another reed to the empty spool. The empty spool is rotated in the usual way to wind a quantity of yarn thereon and when the selected length has been wound, the machine stops automatically and the fullspool is removed and an empty one substituted for it. p

Since the full spool is to be placed ina tube frame with its ends passing through tubes on that frame in a particular order, it is important that the ends be maintained in the order in which they were wound on the spool during the transfer of the spool from the winding machine to the frame. To accomplish this purpose, a comb is employed having teeth between which the yarn ends are received, the ends being inserted in the comb before the spool is removed from the winding machine and the comb and spool transferred together to the'tube frame. In the new winding machine, means are provided. for inserting the yarn ends in their proper order in such a comb in connection with the stoppage of the winding operation, and the machine includes a comb normally out of contact with the yarn ends during the winding operation but brought automatically into contact with the ends when theoper'ation is completed. The comb may be removed from its mounting with the yarn ends in place and is carried away with the full spool, a new comb being inserted in the mount ing for the, empty spool to be wound.

' For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a view of the machine in side elevation showing the parts in the positions which they occupy during the winding operation;

Fig. 2 is a View similar to Fig. 1 but with the parts shown in the positions which they assume when the winding operation is completed;

v Fig. 3 is a view of the machine in front elevation;

Fig. 4 is a View in perspective showing the comb mechanism, and

Figs. 5, 6, and '7 are views of details.

Referring to the drawings, the machine is illustrated as including suitable end standards 10 provided with brackets 11 carrying a reed 12 at the rear end of the machine. The yarn ends 13, drawn from packages such as bobbins mounted in a creel or other convenient support, are led through the dents of the reed in proper order in accordance with the pattern, and the ends pass between a pair of rolls 14 and 15 which constitute a tensioning and measuring device.

The upper roll 15 of the pair floats on top of the ends, pressing them by its own weight against the surface of roll 14. The latter is provided at one end with a gear 16 meshing with a gear 17 on a stud 18, these gears having a different number of teeth. Also, mounted on the end of the roll 14 is a cam disc 19 having a flat portion 20, and a cam disc 21 having a notch 22 in its periphery is attached to gear 1'7 to rotate therewith. Pivotally mounted at 23 on a portion of the standard 10 is a lever 24 which has a projection 25 hearing against the surface of cam disc 19, and at the end of the lever is a pin 26 on which is mounted a lever 27 having a lug 28 which bears against the periphery of the cam disc 21. Lever 24 is provided with a projection 29 near its end which forms an abutment against which the end of lever 27 rests, this abutment preventing lever 2'7 from swinging in a clockwise direction but permitting it to have an upward rocking movement.

The free end of lever 27 is connected by a cable or chain 30 to a lever 31 forming part of the stop mechanism of the machine, the raising of the lever 31 stopping the machine. As the yarn passes between the rolls, they are caused to rotate and cam disc 19 and cam disc 21 rotate at different speeds. Whenever in the rotation of the discs, the flat portion of disc 19 lies beneath the projection 25 of lever 24 at the same time that notch 22 in disc 21 receives the lug 28 on lever 27, a slig t further movement of disc 21 causes lever 27 to swing upwardly, lifting the lever 31 as illustrated in Fig. 2, and stopping the machine. As this action of lever 2'? occurs only when the cam discs coincide in position, it is possible by proper selection of the gears 16 and 17 to cause the stopping action to take place after any selected quantity of yarn has been wound on a spool in a single winding operation.

The yarn ends leaving rolls l4 and 15 pass through a reed 32 mounted on a plate 33 supported on brackets 34 attached to a convenient part of the frame 10, and secured to the plate 33 is a plate 35 (Fig. 4), the upper end of which has a channel in which a comb 36 is mounted. The comb has teeth 37 spaced to receive the yarn ends between them and at the completion of the winding operation, the yarn ends are introduced into the comb by automatically operating means, a cap 38 is placed over the teeth of the comb to hold the ends from displacement, and the comb with the cap in place is then removed with the full spool from the machine.

Another comb is then placed in the channel in the top of the bar 35 for use in connection with the winding of the next spool.

The introduction of the yarn ends into the comb is effected by means of a guide roll 39 which lies beneath the ends and during the winding operation engages the ends and holds them out of contact with the comb. The roll 39 has a spindle, the ends of which are received in arms 40 (Fig. 3) mounted on the ends of a rod 41 carried in arms 42 which are pivotally attached at their lower ends to arms 43 fast on shaft 44 supported in bearings 45 mounted on a convenient part of the frame or" the machine. The arms 42 are raised andlowered by rocking of the shaft 44 and, after a predetermined length of yarn has been wound on the spool, shaft 44 is released and is rocked by gravity action to lower the roll 39 and permit the ends to take the positions they naturally assume in their passage from the reed 32 to the tube, the ends entering between the. teeth of the comb in such movement. The arms 42 are formed with slots 46, and pins 4'7 on arms 48 secured to the frame of the machine enter the slots, the pins serving to maintain the arms in upright position during their movement.

The yarn leaving the roll 39 passes between side guide rods 49a, 49b, mounted in brackets 50 (Fig. 3) extending inward from the end frames of the machine, and each rod is urged in an upward direction by spring 51 attached at one end to a portion of the rod and at its other end to the bracket 50. A cable 52 is connected to the lower end of rod 49a and passes around pulleys 53 and 54 mounted in suitable brackets on the end frame to be spliced below pulley 54 to a cable 55 connected to the lower end of rod 4%. Cable 55' passes around a guide pulley 56 supported in a bracket from one end frame of the loom and is connected at its end to one leg 5? of the bifurcated end of a lever 58 pivotally mounted at 59 on a bracket 60 secured to a frame member 10. During the winding operation, the guide rods are kept in their upper position by the action of the springs 51 but upon stoppage of the machine after the desired quantity of yarn has been wound on the spool, the lever 58 is rocked by mechanism to be described, pulling on cables 52 and 55 and lowering the guide rods out of operative position. In their upper positions, the rods keep the yarns from running oil" the ends of the spool.

The spool on which the yarns are wound is designated 61 and this spool is supported on rolls 62 and 63 and pressed into contact therewith by a roll 64, the rolls being driven in the manner customary in winding machines. The upper pressure roll 64 is mounted in arms 65, each of which is attached at its lower end by a pin 66 to a bar 67 movable in suitable guideways in the end framesand its arm 65 are raised as indicated in Fig. 2 and, when the machine is stopped, the operator grasps a cross-rod 63 extending between the arm 65, raises the arms and pressure roller, and then swings the arms to bring the pressure roller forward and away from the full spool, and to'the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. The full spool may then be removed, an empty spool placed in position, and the pressure roller restored to its contact with the spool.

As previously explained, the guide roller 39 is in elevated position and in contact with the yarn ends and the guide rods 49a and 495 are also elevated during the winding operation. The roll 39 is maintained in this position by means of a As the spool fills, the pressure roller 64 crank arm 69 attached to the shaft 44 and engaged in a notch 79 in the top of a lever 71 pivotally mounted at 72 on the end frame of the machine (Figs. 1 and 6).. The .lower end of the lever 71 lies between the legs 57 and 57a of the bifurcated end of lever 58 and lever 71 continues to support the crank arm 69 throughout the winding operation. When that operation is completed, the lever 71 is automatically rocked to release the arm 69, whereupon the latter is swung counterclockwise by the weight of the parts connected thereto, causing arm 43 to swing in the same manner, so that arms 42 moves downwardly and roll 39 moves out of contact with the yarn ends. Betore the winding operation is started again, the arm v69 is restored to its former position by the attendant.

The movement of arm 69 to a position in which it may be supported by the lever '71 is effected by means of a treadle 73 on the end of a lever 74 pivotally mounted at 75 on a bracket 76 on the end frame, the lever 74 being connected by a link '77 to the end of the arm 69. The lever 69 has a toe 78 which may :be engaged from beneath by one end of a pawl 7.9 pivotally mounted at 89 on the end frame, the pawl being urged in a clockwise direction by a spring '81 connected at one end to the end :of the pawl and at the other to a pin 82 on the end frame. The movement of thepawl is limited :by a stop pin .83 on the .bar 67., and the bar also carries an arm '84 which is engageable with one end of a lever 85 pivoted at 86 on a convenient part of the frame, the other end of the .lever extending beneath a roller 87 on a stud 88 on the link77.

The machine is driven by means of a driving member 89 loosely mounted on the machine drive shaft 90, the connections between the shaft and the winding rolls being of conventional type and not illustrated. Also mounted on the shaft 90 is a clutch yoke 91 movable lengthwise along the shaft to engage the driving member. The clutch yoke :is keyed to the shaft so as to rotate therewith ;and .upon engagement with the drive memoer causes :the -latterto rotate the shaft. The

' movement of the clutch. yoke is effected by an arm 92 attached to the clutch yoke and also attached to :a rod 93, which is urged to a position in which the;yoke is disengaged from the driving member by means of a spring 94 which encircles the rod and bears at one end against a frame of the'machine and at the other against a collar 95 fast on the rod. The rod is manually moved endwise by means of double treadles 96 pivotally mounted on the end frame members and provided with arms 97 connected by links 98 to clamps .99 attached to the rod. Rod 93 projects out beyond one end frame of the machine and has a recess 10.0 in the surface of its projecting end (Fig. 7)., into which the lever 31 is forced by :spring 101 when the recess is in registry with the lever. The lever 31 is pivoted at any convenient point on the frame member 10 and spring 101 is attached at one end to the lever and at the other :to any convenient part of the frame member. The projecting end of rod 93 also has a pin 10.2 entering'a slot in one arm of lever 58.

During the winding operation, the rod 93 is held in a position in which the clutch yoke engages the drive member by means of lever 31 entering recess 'in the rod. At the completion of the winding operation, the lever 27 is raised, as previously explained, and this causes lever 31 to be lifted out of recess 100. The rod 93 is then moved endwise by its spring 94 and moves arm .92 and the clutch yoke to release the drive member and stop the machine. The movement of the rod also causes lever 58 to rock on its pivot and the lever swings lever 71 so that its end frees the crank arm 69. The latter then drops down by gravity, rocking shaft 44 and lowering the roll 39 out of contact with the yarn ends so that the ends may enter the comb 36. The rocking of lever .58 on its pivot also pulls cables52 and .55 and thereby lowers the guide rods 49a and 491).

In starting the machine, the arms 65 together with the pressure roll 64 are raised and then swung forward to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 2. Roll 39 is at this time in its lower position as are also the guide rods 49a and 49b.

An empty spool is placed on top of rolls 62, 63 and the yarn ends which have been led through the reeds 12 and. 32 in proper order in accordance with the pattern are wrapped around the spool to catch the ends. The operator then swings arms 65 and pressure roll 64 to a position above the spool. When the arms are in this position, the stop pin 83 on arm 67 is in the dotted line position shown in Fig. 2 and-pawl 79, maintained in contact with the stop pin by its spring, lies with one end substantially horizontal.

A new comb is now placed in holder 35, and for this purpose the roll 39 must be raised. Accordingly, the operator depresses the treadle 73, moving link 77 upwardly and swinging arm 69 until its toe 78 passes by the end of pawl 79. The movement of arm 69 rocks shaft 44 and raises arms 42 and roll 39, the roll engaging the ends and lifting them upward so that the comb may be inserted in its holder beneath them. and its connections are then held in raised position by pawl 79 engaging arm 69.

The pressure roll 64 is next placed in contact with the spool on which the ends are to be wound and for this purpose, the operator lowers the arms 65 until the roll contacts with the spool. The downward movement of arms 65 causes 67 to move down and the arm 8 attached to bar 67 causes lever 85 to swing until its end contacts with roller 87 on pin 38 on link 77. The swinging of lever 85 by arm 84 into engagement with roller.87 holds arm 69 in raised position even though the downward movement of bar 67 causes stop pin 83 to swing pawl 79 out from under the toe 78 of arm 67. During the movement of pressure roll down against the empty spool, the operator may maintain the treadle 73 depressed, but this is not necessary provided stop 83 is so located that pawl 79 keeps arm 69 up until the arm 84 contacts with the lever 85. When the bars 67 are moved down to a position in which roll 64 rests against the empty spool, the arm 69 and with it the roll 39 is kept up by arm as and lever 85, and treadle 73 may be released, if that has not been done previously. 7

With the parts in this position, the operator, using a hand lever (not shown) mounted on the shaft on which cam 19 is secured, positions the cams .19 and 21 properly for the winding opera-- tion and then depresses one or the other of treadles 96, moving rod 93 endwise until the lever 31 enters the recess in the rod. This movement of the rod swings lever 58 to a position in which it rocks lever 71 so that the arm 69 lies above or is received in the notch 70 in the lever and the movement of lever 53 to the full line position shown in Fig. 5 permits springs 51 to raise guide rods 49a and 49b to theirupper positions. The endwise movement of rod 93 by trcadle 96 also throws in the clutch and the machine then be- The roll gins to wind. If when the pressure roll 64 is in contact with the empty spool, arm 84 swings lever to such an extent as to raise link 77 and arm 69 to a point at which arm 69 is not resting in notch '70' of the lever, the roll 39 may be kept in elevated position by the Weight of the pressure roll acting through the parts mentioned. However, during the winding, pressure roll 64 rises and as the winding proceeds, eventually lever 85 will swing clockwise permitting arm 69 to move down until it rests in the notch. The arm then remains in the notch until the winding operation is completed.

As the yarn ends pass between rolls 14 and 15, the cam discs are rotated untilafter a selected amount of yarn has been wound, the length of which is determined by the size of roll 14 and the number of teeth on gears 16 and 17, lever 27 is raised and pulls lever 31 out of the recess in rod r 93. The rod is then moved endwise by its spring,

stopping the machine. Coincidentally with the stoppage, roll 39 and guide rods 49a and 49b are lowered out of effective position and the ends enter the comb. The cap 38 is then placed over the teeth of the comb, and the operatorlifts out the full spool, frees the comb from its channel, and winds the spool until the comb is in contact with the spool. The yarn is then severed from the sources of supply, a new comb and a new spool placed in position, and the cycle of operations repeated.

It will be seen that the winding operation can be carried on rapidly with this machine and the machine winds closely similar amounts of yarn on each spool. When the winding operation is completed, the machine stops automatically, and the yarn ends are automatically introduced into the comb. The removal of the full spool and the placing of another spool in position are simple operations and little time is consumed in placing the machine in condition to wind the next spool. Since the stopping of the machine is effected by means actuated by the yarn being wound, rather than by driving means for the spool or by some other part which is power-driven, it will be apparent that all the spools wound will contain the same lengths of yarn and the length of yarn on each spool will be the same regardless of the size of the yarn. There is thus practically no loss of yarn in the use of these spools on the loom, and the operation of inserting the yarn ends from the spool through the tubes of a frame is simplified by reason of the use of the comb into which the yarn ends are automatically received at the conclusion of the winding operation.

I claim:

1. In a machine for winding yarn upon a tube or the like, the combination of means for sup porting and rotating 9. tube to wind yarn thereon from a plurality of supplies, a reed through which the yarn ends pass to the tube, a comb disposed at one side of the group of yarn ends passing to the tube, means independent of said reed engaging the yarn ends and holding them from contact with said comb, and means automaticaliy operable upon the winding of a selected length of yarn for rendering said holding means inoperative.

In a machine for winding yarn upon a tube or the like, the combination of means for supporting and rotating a tube to wind yarn thereon from a plurality of supplies, a reed through which the yarn ends pass to the tube, a comb disposed at one side of the group of yarn ends passing to the tube, means independent of said reed engaging the yarn ends and holding them out of the positions they would otherwise assume in their passage to the tube and thereby preventing them from entering the comb, and means operating automatically after a selected length of yarn has been wound for rendering said holding means in operative.

3. In a machine for winding yarn upon a tube or the like, the combination of means for supporting and rotating a tube to wind yarn thereon from a plurality of supplies, a reed through which the yarn ends pass to the tube, a comb disposed at one side of the group of yarn ends passing to the tube, means independent of said reed for engaging the yarn ends and directing them away from said comb, and means operating automatically after a selected length of yarn has been wound and acting on said directing means to render the latter inoperative.

i. In a machine for winding yarn upon a tube or the like, the combination of means for supporting and rotating a tube to wind yarn thereon from a plurality of supplies, a reed through which the yarn ends pass to the tube, a comb disposed at one side of the group of yarn ends passing to the tube, means independent of said reed and disposed between said comb and tube for engaging the yarn ends and directing them away from said comb, and means operating automatically after a selected length of yarn has been wound and acting on said directing means to effect relative movement of said ends and comb to cause said ends to enter between the teeth of the comb.

5. In a machine for winding yarn upon a tube or the like, the combination of means for supporting and rotating a tube to wind yarn thereon from a plurality of supplies, a reed through which the yarn ends pass to the tube, a comb disposed at one side of the group of yarn ends passing to the tube, a movable guide member independent of said reed for engaging the yarn ends at one side of the group thereof and directing said ends away from said comb during the winding operation, and automatic means operable to effect movement of said member and entrance of said ends between the teeth of said comb after a selected length of yarn has been wound.

6. In a machine for winding yarn upon a tube or the like, the combination of means for supporting and rotating a tube to wind yarn thereon from a plurality of supplies, a comb disposed at one side of the group of yarn ends passing to the tube, a guide member independent of said reed and movable from one position in which said member directs said yarn ends away from said comb to a second position in which said member permits said ends to enter between the teeth of said comb, and automatic means actuated by the yarn being wound for effecting movement ofsaid member from one position to the other.

7. In a machine for winding yarn upon a tube or the like, the combination of means for supporting and rotating a tube to wind yarn thereon from a plurality of supplies, a comb disposed at one side of the group of yarn ends passing to the tube, a guide member independent of said reed and movable from one position in which said member directs said yarn ends away from said comb to a second position in which said member permits said ends to enter between the teeth of said comb, and automatic means actuated by the yarn being wound for effecting movement of said member from the first position to the second.

8. In a machine for winding yarn upon a tube or the like, the combination of means for supporting androtating a tube to wind yarn thereon from a plurality of supplies, a comb disposed at one side of the group of yarn ends passing to the tube, a guide member independent of said reed and movable from one position in which said mem-- ber directs said yarn ends away from said comb to a second position in which said member permits ends to enter between the teeth of said comb, and means actuated by the yarn being Wound operating automatically after a predetermined length of yarn has been wound for efiectingmovement of said member from one position to the other.

9. In a machine for winding yarn upon a tube or the like, the combination of means for supporting and rotating a tube to wind yarn thereon from a plurality of supplies, a comb disposed at one side of the group of yarn ends passing to the tube, means engaging the yarn ends and holding them from contact with said comb, and means actuated by the yarn being wound and operable automatically after a selected length of yarn has been wound for rendering said holding means inoperative, said automatic means also stopping the winding operation. I

10. In a machine for winding yarn upon a tube or the like, the combination of means for supporting and rotating a tube to wind yarn thereon from a plurality of supplies, a reed through which the yarn ends pass to the tube, a comb lying at one side of and across the group of yarn ends passing to the tube, means independent of said reed engaging the yarn ends at one side of the group and holding them from contact with the comb, and means actuated by the yarn being wound operating automatically after a selected length of yarn has been wound for rendering said holding means inoperative.

11. In a machine for winding yarn upon a tube or the like, the combination of means for supporting and rotating a tube to wind yarn thereon from a plurality of supplies, a reed through which the yarn ends pass to the tube, a comb lying at one side of and across the group of yarn ends passing to the tube, a member independent of said reed and engageable with the yarn ends from one side thereof and movable between two positions, in the first of which it holds said ends from contact with the comb and in the second of which it permits said ends to enter between the teeth of the comb, and means operating automatically to effect movement of said member from the first position to the second.

12. In a machine for winding yarn upon a tube or the like, the combination of means for supporting and rotating a tube to Wind yarn thereon from a plurality of supplies, a comb lying at one side of and across the group of yarn ends passing to the tube, a member engageable with the yarn ends from one side thereof and movable between two positions, in the first of which it holds said ends from contact with the comb and in the second of which it permits said ends to enter between the teeth of the comb, and means operating automatically to effect movement of said member from the first position to the second and to stop said machine, said means being actuated by the yarn being wound.

13. In a machine for winding yarn upon a tube or the like, the combination of means for supporting and rotating a tube to wind yarn thereon from a plurality of supplies, a comb lying at one side of and across the group of yarn ends passing to the tube, a member engageable with the yarn ends from one side thereof and movable between two positions, in the first of which it holds said ends from contact with the comb and in the second of which it permits said ends to enter between the teeth of the comb, automatic means actuated by the yarn being wound for efiecting movement of the member from the first position to the second, and manual means for restoring the member to its first position.

14. In a machine for winding yarn upon a tube or the like, the combination of means for suppcrting and rotating a tube to wind yarn thereon from a pluralit or supplies, a comb lying at one of and across the group of yarn ends passing to the tube, guide members at opposite sides of the group of ends, means engageable with the ends from one side of the group thereof and operable to hold them out of contact with the comb, and automatic means actuated by the yarn being wound for effecting movement of said means and said members to inoperative position.

15. In a yarn winding machine, the combination of means for supporting and rotating a tube to Wind yarn thereon from a plurality of supplies, a comb lying at one side of and across the group of yarn ends passing to the tube, a member engaging the ends from one side of the group thereof and in one position holding said ends out of contact with the comb, said member being movable by gravity to another position in which it permits said ends to enter the comb, means for holding saidrnember in its first position, and means operating automatically upon completion of a selected period of operation of the machine for causing said holding means to release said member.

1 16. In a yarn winding machine, the combination of means for supporting and rotating a tube to wind yarn thereon from a plurality of supplies, a comb lying at one sideof and across the group of yarn ends passing to the tube, a member 115 engaging the ends from one side of the group thereof and in one position holding said ends out of contact with the comb, said member being movable by gravity to another position in which it permits said ends to enter the comb, means for holding said member in its first position, means operating" automatically at a selected period in the operation of the machine for causing said holding means to release said member, and means for restoring said member to 5 its first position.

1'7. In a yarn winding machine, the combination of means for supporting and rotating a tube to wind yarn thereon from a plurality of supplies, a comb lying at one side of and across the group of yarn ends passing to the tube, a member engaging the ends from one side of the group thereof and in one position holding said ends out of contact with the comb, said member being movable by gravity to another position in- Which it permits said ends to enter the comb, means for holding said member in its first position, means operating automatically at a selected period in the operation of the machine for causing said holding means to release said 140 member, means for restoring said member to its first position, and means for rendering said holding means operative.

able with the ends and in one position holding said ends from contact with the comb, said member being biassed toward another position in which it permits said ends to enter between the teeth of the comb, means for holding said member in its first position, automatic means for causing said holding means to release said member, and means connected to said movable mounting for restoring said member to its first position.

19. In a yarn winding machine, the combina tion of means for supporting and rotating a tube to wind yarn thereon from a plurality of supplies, a pressure element bearing on said tube during the winding operation, a movable mounting for the element, a comb lying at one side of and across the group of ends, a member engageable with the ends and in one position holding said ends from contact with the comb, said member being biassed toward another position in which it permits said ends to enter between the teeth of the comb, means for holding said member in its first position, automatic means for causing said holding means to release said member, and manually operable means for restoring said member to its first position.

20. In a yarn wind-Eng machine, the combination of means for supporting and rotating a tube to wind yarn thereon from a plurality of supplies, a pressure element bearing on said tube (11133- ing the winding operation, a movable mounting for the element, a comb lying at one side of and across the group of ends, a member engageable with the ends and in one position holding said ends from contact with the comb, said member being biassed toward another position in which it permits said ends to enter between the teeth of the comb, means for holding said member in its first position, automatic means for causing said holding means to release said member, manually operable means for restoring said member to its first position, and means connected to said movable mounting for holding said member in said position during the initial part of the winding operation.

21. In a yarn winding machine, the combination of means for supporting and rotating a tube to wind yarn thereon from a plurality of supplies,

a measuring roll rotated by the yarn being wound, a comb at one side of the group of yarn ends being wound, a member engageable with said ends to keep them from contact with said comb, and means actuated by said measuring roll for effecting movement of said member to permitsaid ends to enter the comb.

22. In a yarn winding machine, the combination of means for supporting and rotating a tube to wind yarn thereon from a plurality of supplies, a measuring roll rotated by the yarn being wound, a comb at one side of the group of yarn ends being wound, a member engageable with said ends to keep them from contact with said comb, means actuated by said measuring roll for eiiecting movement of said member to permit said ends to enter the comb after a selected period or" operation of the machine, and means for restoring said member to a position in which it keeps said ends out of contact with the comb.

23. In a yarn winding machine, the combination of means for supporting and rotating a tube to wind yarn thereon from a plurality of supplies, a measur'ng roll rotated by the yarn being wound, a comb at one side of the group of yarn ends being wound, a member engageable with said ends to keep them from contact with said comb, means actuated by said measuring roll for effecting movement of said member to permit said ends to enter the comb after a selected period of operation of the machne, said means also stopping the machine, and means for restoring said member to a position in which it keeps said ends out of contact with the comb.

24. In a yarn winding machine, the combination of means for supporting and rotating a tube to wind yarn ends thereon, a comb disposed at one side of the group of ends passing to the comb, a member engaging the ends and movable between two positions in one of which the ends enter between the teeth of the comb and in the other of whch the ends are free of the comb, and means actuated by the yarn ends and operating automatically upon winding of a selected length of yarn to move said member from the second position to the first.

CLARENCE EARL SMART.

Mil 

